DJI Mini 5 Pro Leak Shocks Drone World with 52-Minute Flight Time and 1-Inch Camera - Everything We Know

Key Facts

• 1-inch camera sensor (sub-250g drone first): Leaked retail packaging confirms the Mini 5 Pro will carry a 1-inch type CMOS sensor capable of 4K video at 120 fps, paired with a 24 mm f/1.8 lens and even a 48 mm “telephoto” mode via in-sensor crop notebookcheck.net techradar.com. This is a huge leap in imaging for an ultra-light drone and would make it the lightest drone ever with a 1-inch sensor techradar.com.
• Extended flight time (up to 52 minutes): A new high-capacity “Intelligent Flight Battery Plus” boosts flight endurance to 52 minutes per charge notebookcheck.net techradar.com – a dramatic jump from the Mini 4 Pro’s ~45-minute max with its Plus battery (34–36 minutes with the standard pack) dronedj.com. Standard batteries for the Mini 5 Pro are rated around 36 minutes techradar.com, still an improvement over its predecessor.
• 360º obstacle avoidance with LiDAR: For the first time in the Mini series, the Mini 5 Pro integrates LiDAR sensors alongside omnidirectional vision sensors notebookcheck.net techradar.com. This allows 360-degree obstacle avoidance, even in low light, vastly improving on the Mini 4 Pro’s obstacle sensing capabilities. DJI’s ActiveTrack subject tracking is supported as well for automated follow-shots notebookcheck.net.
• Redesigned gimbal and build: The 3-axis camera gimbal can rotate a full ±225° (including true vertical shooting without cropping) notebookcheck.net techradar.com. Leaked images also show improved folding propellers and a new “tap-and-twist” propeller attachment (replacing one-time screws) for easier prop changes notebookcheck.net. The drone remains ultra-light (<250 g) to fall in the least-regulated category, carrying a EU C0 class label despite all the upgrades notebookcheck.net.
• Pricing expected on par with Mini 4 Pro: Multiple leaks indicate DJI will hold the line on pricing. The Mini 5 Pro’s base package (Standard Combo) is rumored to launch around $759 in the US – roughly the Mini 4 Pro’s launch price notebookcheck.net. A Fly More Combo (with extra batteries and the screen-equipped DJI RC 2 controller) was spotted at €1,129 in Europe, exactly the same as the Mini 4 Pro Fly More Combo’s retail price techradar.com.
• Imminent launch (mid-September 2025): With retail box photos leaking, an official release is believed to be weeks away. Insiders hint at a mid-September 2025 launch window (one rumor points to Sept. 16) notebookcheck.net techradar.com, meaning drone enthusiasts could have the Mini 5 Pro in hand very soon.

Leaked Specs & Features: A “Mini” Drone with Mighty Upgrades

Recent leaks – capped by a retail packaging photo leak reported by NotebookCheck on Aug 31, 2025 – have essentially unveiled the Mini 5 Pro’s spec sheet. The box details paint the picture of a groundbreaking update to DJI’s Mini line notebookcheck.net. For the first time ever, an ultralight drone (<250 g) is equipped with a 1-inch imaging sensor, a feature previously limited to much larger drones. This 1-inch sensor (likely around 20 MP) will shoot up to 4K at 120 fps for silky slow-motion footage notebookcheck.net. It’s paired with a sharp 24 mm (full-frame equivalent) lens at f/1.8 aperture, excellent for low-light scenes techradar.com. DJI is even advertising a 48 mm “medium telephoto” mode, achieved via an in-sensor crop zoom, to get closer shots without needing a bulky zoom lens notebookcheck.net notebookcheck.net.

Crucially, DJI has overhauled the Mini’s flight performance. The leaked “Fly More Combo Plus” package listing confirms the inclusion of three Intelligent Flight Battery Plus packs, each good for an astounding 52-minute flight time per charge notebookcheck.net techradar.com. This massive endurance boost (nearly 20 minutes more than the Mini 4 Pro’s standard battery) is enabled by higher-capacity cells – FCC filings show a 33.5 Wh battery for the Mini 5 Pro, almost double the Mini 4 Pro’s 18.9 Wh pack theverge.com. Even with the regular battery, the Mini 5 is expected to hover around 35–36 minutes of flight, slightly edging out the ~34 minutes of the Mini 4 Pro dronedj.com techradar.com. Do note, using the Plus batteries likely nudges the drone’s weight above 250 g (as was the case with prior Plus packs) notebookcheck.net techradar.com, meaning pilots who want to stay under regulatory weight limits might stick to the standard batteries except when maximum airtime is needed.

In terms of sensing and navigation, the Mini 5 Pro is shaping up to be the safest Mini yet. Leaked info points to omnidirectional obstacle sensing, enhanced by forward-facing LiDAR scanners notebookcheck.net techradar.com. This is a big deal – previous Mini models relied on vision sensors (cameras) which can struggle in low light and lacked true 360° coverage (the Mini 4 Pro had improved wide-angle sensors but still primarily optical) dronedj.com. LiDAR will enable the Mini 5 Pro to see obstacles in the dark and provide more reliable all-around collision avoidance. DJI’s familiar Advanced Pilot Assistance Systems (APAS) and ActiveTrack features are reportedly on board as well, allowing the drone to automatically track subjects and avoid obstacles autonomously notebookcheck.net – great for activities like running or cycling where you want the drone to follow along.

The drone’s physical design and mechanics also get refined. The camera gimbal is listed as supporting 225° of rotation notebookcheck.net techradar.com, which implies the camera can tilt well beyond vertical – likely enabling true vertical portrait shots (for TikTok/Instagram content) without needing to rotate the whole aircraft. This builds on the Mini 3/4 Pro’s ability to shoot vertical video, but with a more flexible gimbal range (possibly even some upward tilt for creative angles). Images leaked via DroneXL and others show a slightly larger camera module (to house that 1-inch sensor) and new folding propeller designs notebookcheck.net. One notable change: DJI appears to have done away with the single-use screws that held the Mini 4’s props, moving to a simpler “press and twist” quick-release propeller mount for easier swapping of propellers notebookcheck.net. There’s also talk of a convenience launch button on the drone’s body for initiating takeoff without using the controller notebookcheck.net – a minor but handy feature if true.

How It Compares to the DJI Mini 4 Pro

The Mini 5 Pro represents a significant jump over 2023’s Mini 4 Pro, which itself was an incremental upgrade of the Mini 3 Pro. Here are the major ways the Mini 5 is poised to outshine its predecessor:

• Camera and Imaging: Moving from a 1/1.3-inch, 48 MP sensor on the Mini 4 Pro to a much larger 1-inch sensor on the Mini 5 Pro is a game-changer. This upgrade should yield better dynamic range and low-light performance, akin to the beloved DJI Air 2S (which also had a 1″ sensor) but in a body half the weight techradar.com. The Mini 4 Pro capped out at 4K 60fps video; the Mini 5 doubles that to 4K 120fps for slow motion notebookcheck.net. Both models offer HDR video and 10-bit color profiles for enthusiasts, but the Mini 5 Pro will simply collect more light and detail per frame. The lens on the Mini 5 (24 mm f/1.8) is slightly wider and faster than the Mini 4’s (~24 mm f/1.7), with the added 48 mm cropped mode for extra reach notebookcheck.net notebookcheck.net. In short, expect noticeably crisper footage and photos from the Mini 5 Pro, especially in challenging lighting.
• Flight Time: The Mini 4 Pro boasted up to ~34 minutes on its standard battery, and around 45 minutes with the optional Plus battery in perfect conditions dronedj.com. The Mini 5 Pro pushes these boundaries further – ~36 minutes standard, and around 50–52 minutes with the new Plus battery notebookcheck.net techradar.com. That’s a huge 15–20% boost, thanks largely to higher capacity batteries (33.5 Wh vs ~18.9 Wh) and likely improved power efficiency theverge.com. In practical terms, half an hour of flight was already plenty for most shoots; nearly an hour is extraordinary for a drone this small. It edges the Mini series closer to the endurance of larger drones like the Mavic series, giving pilots more freedom to capture multiple shots or fly farther without rushing to land.
• Obstacle Avoidance and Sensors: The Mini 4 Pro was the first of the Minis to achieve “omnidirectional” obstacle sensing – it had front, rear, downward, and upward vision sensors, covering most angles (though it used clever fisheye lenses to watch the sides, with some blind spots). The Mini 5 Pro goes a step further by reportedly adding LiDAR into the mix notebookcheck.net techradar.com. LiDAR (light detection and ranging) can detect obstacles by scanning distance, functioning even in darkness where optical cameras falter. This means the Mini 5 Pro should stop or avoid an object in its path more reliably, day or night. As a result, features like ActiveTrack (which both Mini 4 and 5 have) will likely perform more confidently on the Mini 5, and risk of crashes is reduced. In essence, the Mini 5 Pro borrows high-end avoidance tech usually seen on flagship drones and brings it to the palm-sized category.
• Speed and Range: While specifics like top speed aren’t leaked, the Mini 5 Pro will likely have similar agility and wind resistance to the Mini 4. However, one behind-the-scenes upgrade is in the video transmission system. The Mini 4 Pro introduced DJI’s O4 (Ocusync 4) video link with up to 20 km range (12.4 miles) in FCC regions. Rumors suggest the Mini 5 Pro may push that even further, possibly up to 25 km (15.5 miles) in ideal conditions theverge.com. Even if you’ll rarely fly a tiny drone so far, a stronger link means a more stable live feed and better signal in interference-prone areas. The Mini 5 will use the DJI RC 2 controller (with built-in screen), as confirmed by leaked packaging notebookcheck.net techradar.com, which is the same new controller the Mini 4 Pro used – so existing Mini 4 Pro owners with an RC 2 can likely bind it to a Mini 5 without buying a new controller.
• Design and Features: Both drones keep the <250 g weight class, crucially. The Mini 5 Pro’s frames and arms look a tad more robust in leaked images, possibly to support the larger camera and new sensors. The propeller change mechanism on the Mini 5 is more user-friendly (no tiny screws to lose) notebookcheck.net. Both have foldable designs that collapse to pocket-size. A small but handy addition on the Mini 5 Pro is that side launch/land button noted in leaks notebookcheck.net, which wasn’t present on the Mini 4. This could let you launch the drone straight up from the ground with one press, for those times you’ve powered it on and want a quick lift-off without fiddling in the app. The Mini 4 Pro already had excellent GNSS and vision positioning; we expect the Mini 5 to match or improve on these for steady hovering. One thing to watch is whether the Mini 5 continues to support features like Hyperlapse, MasterShots, and other software modes – nothing suggests it wouldn’t, and the more powerful hardware might even expand its creative feature set.

In summary, the Mini 5 Pro looks to be a much more capable machine than the Mini 4 Pro, addressing its predecessor’s limitations (camera size, low-light obstacle detection, flight time) while maintaining the same ultra-light form factor and price bracket. It’s a classic DJI move: pushing the envelope of what “Mini” drones can do, two years after the last major Mini upgrade.

Market Positioning: Who Is the Mini 5 Pro For?

The DJI Mini 5 Pro is targeted at a sweet spot of the market – enthusiast hobbyists, travel content creators, and anyone who wants pro-level features in a tiny, no-hassle package. DJI’s Mini series has always been about packing as much tech as possible into a drone under the 250 g weight threshold, and the Mini 5 Pro is the ultimate expression of that goal.

Why 250 grams? In many countries (like the US, UK, EU nations, and more), drones under 250 g enjoy lighter regulations – often no registration or licensing is required for recreational use, and you can fly in more places with fewer restrictions. As TechRadar’s drone reviewer Sam Kieldsen explains, “for hobbyists and occasional flyers (in other words, most drone users) it only makes sense to buy a drone of 249g or less” to avoid heavy rules techradar.com. With the Mini 5 Pro, pilots don’t have to compromise nearly as much as in the past to stay under that limit. Earlier Minis always involved trade-offs – smaller sensors, shorter range, no obstacle sensors on some – but the Mini 5 Pro’s leaked specs show true high-end camera quality and obstacle avoidance in a sub-250g body techradar.com. In Kieldsen’s words, features like 4K/120 video and LiDAR mean “there’s not a great deal of compromise” anymore on an ultra-light drone techradar.com.

The Mini 5 Pro is ideal for travelers and outdoor adventurers – it folds up to fit in a jacket pocket or small bag, yet can capture cinematic footage of your trip with ease. Its improved battery life also makes it attractive to hikers or vloggers who might be out all day and want to get multiple flights in without recharging. Real estate photographers and casual filmmakers on a budget could also use the Mini 5 Pro to shoot wide-angle 4K footage and tracking shots that previously might have required a larger drone or a crew. And importantly, because it’s under 250 g, tasks like flying over people or in urban areas (that would be illegal or require special waivers with heavier drones) become legally feasible in many regions – as long as basic safety is observed techradar.com techradar.com. This opens up creative possibilities for solo creators who don’t want the hassle of a spotter or special permit for every flight.

In essence, DJI is positioning the Mini 5 Pro as “mini but mighty” – a drone that a photography enthusiast or tech-savvy beginner can use as their primary drone. It lowers the barrier to entry (no registration, very portable), yet it can grow with you as your skills advance, given it has manual camera controls, raw photo capture, 10-bit color, and advanced autonomous modes akin to prosumer models. The fact that DJI might price it similarly to the previous generation also indicates they want to capture the broad market of hobbyists who found the Mini 4 Pro a bit too incremental of an upgrade. If the leaks hold true, the Mini 5 Pro could arguably cannibalize some sales of DJI’s larger models (like the Air 3 or even Mavic series) for those who prioritize convenience over absolute top specs. But DJI seems willing to do that, cementing the Mini line as a legitimate third pillar alongside the Air and Mavic lines – one focused on ultralight innovation.

Pricing, Packages, and Release Rumors

Despite the high-end upgrades, the DJI Mini 5 Pro is expected to launch at a price similar to the Mini 4 Pro, making it a compelling value in the drone market. Leaker Jasper Ellens – who has a strong track record on DJI rumors – reported that a European retailer listed the Mini 5 Pro Fly More Combo (with RC 2 controller) at €1,129, which is exactly what the Mini 4 Pro Fly More Combo sold for in Europe techradar.com. In the US, that would imply a base kit around the $749–799 range (the Mini 4 Pro’s base kit launched at $759 last year) notebookcheck.net. In fact, Ellens noted “the Mini5 Pro might cost exactly the same as the current Mini4 Pro” despite all the new tech dronexl.co. If true, DJI is essentially giving consumers more for the same price – a welcome surprise when many expected a price hike for the larger sensor and LiDAR. Another leak from late August suggested the Mini 5’s Standard Combo and Fly More Combo packages will mirror the Mini 4’s offerings, with the Standard Combo likely including the drone, one battery, and a controller, and the Fly More Combo bundling extra batteries (either standard or Plus versions), a charging hub, spare propellers, and the carrying case notebookcheck.net. Notably, a “Fly More Combo Plus” is hinted at in the packaging leaks techradar.com – this presumably is the bundle that includes the higher-capacity Plus batteries (three of them, to reach that 52-minute flight time) along with the DJI RC 2 remote. DJI did something similar with the Mini 3 Pro’s battery options, selling the Plus batteries separately in some regions due to regulatory weight limits; it remains to be seen if the Mini 5’s Plus combo will be available worldwide or restricted in areas with strict <250g rules notebookcheck.net.

As for the release date, all signs point to an imminent launch in September 2025. The consensus rumor is a mid-September announcement – multiple sources mention September 15–16, 2025 as a likely target, though DJI hasn’t officially confirmed anything yet notebookcheck.net. The appearance of final retail packaging (and even unboxing photos circulating on social media) is a strong indicator that release is weeks, if not days, away techradar.com. TechRadar notes that packaging leaks usually emerge “very close to launch”, and expects an official reveal within the next couple of weeks of the leak techradar.com. DroneXL’s reporting suggests DJI could drop a teaser as early as September 9, with the product shipping by mid-month if schedules hold dronexl.co. DJI has a pattern of releasing products in late summer/early fall, and with the Mini 4 Pro now a year old and competitor products (like the Insta360 Antigravity drone) on the horizon, the timing makes sense.

Consumers should be ready for rapid availability once it’s announced – DJI often has products in stock or shipping within days of launch. Given units are already in the hands of some content creators (according to Reddit leak chatter) notebookcheck.net, it’s likely the Mini 5 Pro will be available for order very soon after the unveil. In terms of geography, the big question is whether the Mini 5 Pro will launch globally simultaneously. There’s speculation about a US release being uncertain (due to past trade issues – e.g., the DJI Mini 4 Pro had a delayed or limited US debut) theverge.com. However, the FCC filing exists (meaning DJI sought US certification), so it’s a good bet the Mini 5 Pro will indeed come to North America around the same time as Europe and Asia. Pricing could vary a bit with taxes (the TechRadar piece cites the Mini 4 Pro Fly More at $1,758 in the US vs £979 in the UK for instance) techradar.com, but the relative pricing should remain consistent with the Mini 4 Pro’s structure.

Expert Commentary & Early Reactions

The drone community is buzzing with excitement for the Mini 5 Pro, and for good reason. Seasoned drone reviewers and industry insiders are already weighing in on what these leaks mean, and the consensus is that the Mini 5 Pro could redefine the ultra-light drone category.

Sam Kieldsen, a veteran drone reviewer for TechRadar, expressed that the Mini 5 Pro looks like a breakthrough for mainstream drone users. After digesting the leak specs, he wrote “the DJI Mini 5 Pro just seems like the perfect drone for most people” techradar.com. Kieldsen noted that packing a 1-inch sensor and advanced safety features into a sub-250g drone was something “considered nigh-on impossible” not long ago techradar.com, yet here we are. He emphasized how the Mini 5 Pro “has so much going for it”, combining DJI’s decade of drone expertise into a highly anticipated product techradar.com. The ability to fly such a capable camera drone legally in places heavier drones can’t (due to weight rules) clearly has him, and many others, excited. In fact, he stated plainly that the Mini 5 Pro is “the drone I’m more likely to buy” compared to flashier exotic options, because of its sheer practicality and versatility techradar.com. Coming from someone who tests drones for a living, that sentiment speaks volumes.

On the leaks and insider front, Jasper Ellens – known in the community for his accurate DJI scoops – has been a central figure in disseminating Mini 5 Pro information. He not only uncovered pricing data on his DroneXL site but also shared early images and even a folding animation video of the Mini 5. Ellens remarked on X (Twitter) about the pricing surprise: “Unexpectedly the #Mini5Pro… might cost exactly the same as the current #Mini4Pro” dronexl.co, echoing how unusual it is for DJI to hold price while adding significant upgrades. He also hinted at a “mid-September release” in that same post dronexl.co, which has since been corroborated by other sources. Ellens’ leaks, including a photo of the Mini 5 Pro’s retail box showing the RC 2 controller and 52-min batteries, were quickly picked up by outlets like NotebookCheck and TechRadar notebookcheck.net techradar.com, further validating their legitimacy. Another respected DJI leaker, OsitaLV, had months ago teased that the Mini 5 Pro would carry LiDAR sensors dronedj.com – something that many were skeptical of at first (LiDAR on a toy-like Mini?). Now that we have packaging confirming the LiDAR, OsitaLV’s early info looks spot on, reinforcing his credibility among drone enthusiasts.

Drone-focused publications have also chimed in. DroneDJ called the Mini 5’s rumored specs “exciting but logical,” noting that each generation of the Mini series builds steadily on the last and that the jump to a 1-inch sensor and 50+ minute flight time would keep DJI well ahead of competitors in the ultralight segment dronedj.com techradar.com. Over at NotebookCheck, which has been diligently cataloguing each leak, editors pointed out that DJI seems to have “hit a ceiling” on pricing – in a good way – suggesting the company might be wary of making the Mini line too expensive dronexl.co. Instead, DJI is likely banking on selling a lot of these units, positioning it as the go-to drone for amateurs and semi-pros alike.

Early reactions on forums and social media underscore a general eagerness for the Mini 5 Pro. Users on r/dji (Reddit) and other drone forums are already discussing which combo to get and what features they’re most excited about – the 1″ sensor and 4K/120fps are a common theme, as many have wanted a truly high-end camera in a travel-friendly drone techradar.com. Others are thrilled about the prospect of better obstacle avoidance: “Finally, a Mini that can actually avoid trees at dusk,” one user quipped, referencing how earlier Minis struggled in low light. Some have raised practical questions – if the Plus battery pushes it over 250g, will they need to register it? (Short answer: likely yes, if flying with Plus battery in countries that require registration above 250g). But the option to drop weight when needed is seen as a smart move by DJI.

All told, the DJI Mini 5 Pro is attracting praise before it’s even officially announced. It promises to deliver a level of performance that would have seemed far-fetched for a drone you can literally fit in your palm. As Sam Kieldsen succinctly put it, the Mini 5 Pro is “shaping up to be the drone that most [people] have been waiting for” techradar.com. If DJI confirms these leaks in the coming days, the Mini 5 Pro could very well become the most popular camera drone of 2025, bringing professional-grade capabilities to the masses in a miniaturized, user-friendly form. Keep an eye on DJI’s official channels in the next few weeks – it won’t be long until all of these details are confirmed and we see just how high this little drone can fly (both literally and figuratively).

Sources: Recent reporting and leaks from NotebookCheck notebookcheck.net notebookcheck.net, DroneXL dronexl.co dronexl.co, DroneDJ dronedj.com dronedj.com, TechRadar techradar.com techradar.com, The Verge theverge.com, and industry insiders on X. All information is based on leaks as of early September 2025, and final specs/pricing may be confirmed by DJI’s official announcement expected soon.